When Genevieve Gregson eventually completes her gruelling comeback from an Achilles rupture suffered in gut-wrenching scenes at the Tokyo Olympics, she will have an NBA superstar to thank for inspiration.
Her husband, fellow Australian athletics ace Ryan Gregson, will always be the most important figure as she fights back from that heartbreaking moment in the 3000m steeplechase final.
Throughout the journey, after all, Genevieve has repeatedly called Ryan “my rock”.
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But Ryan has revealed Kevin Durant’s astonishing return from the same injury setback during the 2019 NBA finals, in which he pinged his right Achilles in a match against the Toronto Raptors, is also spurring Genevieve on.
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Millions of Australian hearts sunk when Genevieve tripped at the last water jump of the steeplechase final. Lying flat on her stomach in the water, head bowed in devastation, the three-time Olympian clutched at her right Achilles. Moments later, she was being carted from the track in a wheelchair.
As Genevieve sets her sights on farewelling the steeplechase and targeting the marathon, Durant’s NBA return with the Brooklyn Nets is among the stories of success being shared by Ryan.
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“Ruptures are obviously bad, but you see Kevin Durant coming back. Gen is only trying to come back and run the marathon, which is a lot of time on the Achilles but not very aggressive,” Ryan told Wide World of Sports.
“She’ll be wearing shoes with a big heel and there actually isn’t a huge force being put through the Achilles, compared to someone trying to dunk a basketball. That’s a lot harder.
“It’s great (having stories like Durant’s to look to). He’s someone who’s done it all before and a real-life experience that you can base it off.”
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Genevieve competed in the 3000m steeplechase at the London Olympics of 2012, in which she ran a personal best but was eliminated in the heats.
The Queenslander then finished ninth in the 3000m steeplechase final at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 12th in the 5000m decider, before becoming a three-time Olympic finalist at the Tokyo Games.
Genevieve also remains the Australian 3000m steeplechase record-holder, having run 9:14.28 in Paris in 2016.
The 32-year-old’s shift to the marathon will see her join the likes of Australians Sinead Diver, Lisa Weightman, Ellie Pashley and Jess Stenson in the 42.195km event.
“The changing of events is a positive,” Ryan says.
“She was doing the 3000m steeplechase, which is very aggressive; you’re jumping over hurdles, you’re landing in water from a height. She won’t be able to do that anymore – we’ve accepted that.
“Moving to the marathon – it’s a lot more time on the Achilles, but it’s not a very aggressive motion. You’re running at a slower pace, it’s less force and the shoes you can wear on the road are more supportive than spikes.
“If you had said you’ll be doing the steeple again and jumping over water jumps, the same movement that ruptured her Achilles, that would be pretty daunting. But because of the change of event, it’s going to be easier on her Achilles.”
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Genevieve is building back from her rupture at the Queensland Academy of Sport in Brisbane – and the progress she’s making has even surprised her biggest supporter.
“If you had told me three-and-a-half months on that she’d be running, albeit on an AlterG treadmill, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Ryan says with a hint of immense pride in his voice.
“She’s in a really good spot.”
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